Oleksandr Kozhukhov, National Space Facilities Control and Test Center of State Space Agency of Ukraine; Nikolay Koshkin, Astronomical Observatory of Odessa I.I. Mechnikov National University; Leonid Shakun, Astronomical Observatory of Odessa I.I. Mechnikov National University; Oleksandr Bryukhovetskyi, National Space Facilities Control and Test Center of State Space Agency of Ukraine; Oleksandr Vasyltsiun, National Space Facilities Control and Test Center of State Space Agency of Ukraine; Thomas Schildknecht, University of Bern, Astronomical Institute; Alessandro Vananti, University of Bern, Astronomical Institute; Palash Patole, University of Bern, Astronomical Institute; Fabrizio Piergentili, University of Rome – La Sapienza; Lorenzo Mariani, University of Rome – La Sapienza; Andrew Hammett, UK Space Agency; Robert Sherwood, NERC Space Geodesy Facility; Toshifumi Yanagisawa, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency; Hirohisa Kurosaki, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency; Viktor Kudak, Uhzhorod National University, Laboratory of Space Research; Vasyl Perig, Uhzhorod National University, Laboratory of Space Research; Igor Salnikov, Astronomical Observatory of Lviv University; Yeva Vovchyk, Astronomical Observatory of Lviv University; Ilgmars Eglitis, Institute of Astronomy University of Latvia; Jorge del Pino, Institute of Astronomy University of Latvia; Kalvis Salmins, Institute of Astronomy University of Latvia; Germano Bianchi, INAF – National Institute for Astrophysics; Pierluigi Di Lizia, Politecnico di Milano
Keywords: LEO, Space Debris, Photometry
Abstract:
Determining the rotation state of non-cooperative space objects is one of the tasks of the SSA. Estimation of their rotation rate and the spatial orientation of the rotation axis is necessary to predict their attitude, which is of great importance for both the success of active large space debris removal (ADR) missions and the improved propagation of RSO orbits on LEO. Monitoring the state of RSO can be carried out by various means, including using ground-based optical sensors by collecting photometric data, processing it and analyzing light curves. This paper discusses a technique for estimating the orientation of the RSO rotation axis in space, which is based on a structural analysis of RSO light curves and the search for similar fragments (“photometric patterns”) in observations obtained from one or several sites synchronously, or sequentially over a short period of time. This approach does not assume knowledge of the body shape, so we use it to estimate the orientation of the rotation axis of two different RSOs, for one of which the shape information is completely missing. Photometric observations were obtained as part of two international campaigns: 87074G (R/B SL-14) was observed in 2020-2022 аs part of the activities of the IADC, and observations of 82092A (COSMOS 1408; destroyed as a result of the use of an ASAT weapon on November 15, 2021) were acquired in 2023 – 2024 by observatories in Ukraine and some countries. The results of estimating the value and evolution of the rotation period, as well as the orientation of the rotation axis of RSO data, were obtained for time intervals with the highest density of observation series, are presented.
Date of Conference: September 17-20, 2024
Track: Satellite Characterization